First Day of School: Third Grade

We all made it through the first week of school! Getting up at 5:30 AM cured us of any lingering jet lag, so that has been a good thing. It also cured Abigail of any problems of being able to fall asleep that she was having. So we are off and running. Brett too has been pretty busy with new classes and new students. It is a good thing he likes his job so much. Darn it, I forgot to take a picture of him in his new school clothes!

Abbey's teacher Mrs. Errico seems very organized, and that is such a blessing. When I walked Abbey to class that first day, she was right there meeting each student and helping them feel comfortable. She asked me a few questions about who would be picking Abbey up and other procedures. She even wrote down my answers. I really appreciated that. Dropping your child off on her first day of school gets a little more emotional and worrisome when you do it in a foreign country.

Abbey quickly found her name card at her table and sat down. Her name was printed on one side of the name card and then written in cursive on the other. It made me remember the joys of third grade, especially being able to learn how to write in cursive. I've never been an artist, but handwriting has always been my thing. Abbey, on the other hand, is not looking forward to that part. I guess she leans more towards her dad in that way. He had to take remedial handwriting during recess and still talks about that scarring experience.

With the start of another school year, as always, I have been feeling a little melancholy about my baby growing up. It is always a time for moms to mark the passing of time and long for the less complex baby days with warm snuggles and rocking chair closeness.

Abigail further illustrated her race to grow up later in the week when we were driving home from the store. I was singing one of my favorite songs "You Are My Sunshine" to her to help keep my sanity as we dodged the random crazed Land Cruiser on the roads of Doha. This song has always been my Abbey song, and I have often changed the words while singing it, putting in lines like, "You are my Abbey, and you're a sweetheart. I love you more than you can know . . . " I know, very silly, but one of my favorite things to do with my children and grandchildren.

So after I finished singing, I was basking in my great mothering practices that build up my daughter's self-esteem, and went and asked a dangerous question. "So do you like it when I sing to you like that and make up words about you for the song?" Without hesitating, Abbey said in a matter of fact tone, "Yes, but don't ever do it in front of my friends." That kind of stunned me and I got pretty quiet as I thought about how early this was for her to already be embarrassed by her mom. (It also made me think of an old movie with Barbara Stanwyck titled Stella Dallas. Check it out if you haven't seen it.) Just as I was about to get my feelings hurt, Abbey piped up in the back again and said, "If your feelings are hurt, you are the one who asked." She was right, so I had no one to blame but myself for now knowing that my baby no longer looked at me with blind admiration. Sad, I know.

Identities Revealed Volume Two

Okay, there weren't many guessers, but here are the identities of the mysterious ladies:

1. Lynn Millis

2. Lucille Wilkinson

3. Lorna Giggey

4. Rachel Hixson

5. Annie Hixson

6. Kate Smith

7. Ann Smith

8. Michelle Smith

9. Emma Hixson

Thanks for being such good sports, ladies!

Guess Who: Volume Two

Okay, here are some more fun pictures of friends and family posing in the abaya, shayla, and veil. Try and guess who these fun ladies are:

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#9

A New Experience

Hey, when Abbey was about three she kept telling us that she wanted to move because she wanted to have a new experience. Well, moving to Doha has certainly given her that -- probably more than she bargained for.

Speaking of new experiences, I did something this summer that I never thought I would: drive a Jet Ski or Sea Doo or Wave Runner, whatever your preferred term is. Yes, at first I was hesitant as Brett coaxed me to get on with him and hold little Kimball between us as I made my maiden voyage. I was hooked and went with him a second time, this time remembering to take off my insulin pump first. It was a good thing I did too, because Brett dumped us. But that didn't dampen my new found enthusiasm. Brett was then able to talk me into driving with him on the back. Before I knew it, I was racing across Jordanelle Dam, daring the bugs to crash into my teeth as I smiled from ear to ear. It was freezing cold that morning, but the exhilaration of moving so fast across the water helped me forget myself for awhile and experience the thrill.

Then a few weeks after that first encounter with combining speed and water, the Reilleys invited us to go wave running with them. I hadn't planned to drive solo, but that is exactly what I ended up doing. Brett was on one wave runner and I was on the other. Then Lori and I went out together. I even got brave and did some "risky" turns. Abbey even ventured on the water with me. No, she didn't drive, but she did hold onto my life vest as I twisted us through the waves.

No, I wouldn't impress anyone but myself with my new skills, but I conquered a fear. Not everyone knows what it is like to have a diabetic reaction, so not many people understood my reluctance to be on a high powered machine in the middle of a large body of water all alone. Exercise and excitement can sometimes bring on these reactions, so my worries were not imaginary. I finally just had to tell myself that the life vest would do its job if the most terrible thing happened.

I'm so glad I let myself be coaxed and cajoled into trying something new. It was pure enjoyment, and the thoughts of those days skimming across the water will go a long way during the heated days of Doha these next few months. The family day we had at Jordanelle will go down in the Kearney History as one of the best. I don't have a photo of Kimball sandwiched in between Brett and me on the jet ski, but that moment is embedded in my memory forever - the first time Kimball and Grandma Dianna rode the wild waves. Thanks for sharing it with me little Kimball boy!

Kearney Family Pictures

The last time we had a family portrait taken Ben was about seven. He just turned 23 last month, so another photo shoot has been long overdue. So this summer, during a short window of opportunity while everyone was under one roof, we scheduled a picture taking session. We even planned the wardrobe and had everyone dress in black, white, and jeans. It was going to be a dream come true for me and for Brett.

Well, the day arrived and everyone, including the little grandsons, were in top form. Our smiles were sparkling, our attire was well coordinated, and our personalities took on amazing photogenic qualities. Both Thomas and Kimball smiled and laughed through the whole session. Our photographer had a special connection with them, and it showed. They really piled on the charm. Brett and I were thrilled. We would finally have a family portrait we could hang in the living room that we would be proud to point at as we bragged about our beautiful family.

Well, then we got word from the photographer that something had gone wrong with the settings on her camera. Most of the pictures had turned out blurry, and she doubted that we would want any of them. She was so apologetic and embarrassed, but we weren't angry. Oh, we were sad. Oh, how I shook my fist at the photography fates who, over the many years, have sabotaged so many of our attempts to make a reproduction of our family.

After a few weeks, I talked the photographer into letting me at least see the shots she had taken. When we opened up the file and scanned through the hundreds of photos, we were pleasantly surprised and found a few that were worth printing. The photo quality wouldn't be the best, but at least our little family had been captured and frozen in time for once. Brett and I could still have a tangible object that represents the love and devotion of our life. So here are a few of the best shots. We are going to try this again at Christmas and thumb our noses at those photography fates again, because they will not deter or discourage us from this mission! Any advice?